You can see a lot of what happened in the creation of this shot in this video below — enjoy!

Daily Photo – 10 Hours in Kuala Lumpur

I do love this airport! It's absolutely beautiful and the reflections are what I think really does it for me. I don't know how often they have to buff these things, but they must have a crew of 100 people constantly buffing it! I really wanted to take off my shoes and just slide all around like a little kid in socks… I was there for so long, I should have!

I have a behind-the-scenes of this. Be sure to pop over to Videos page here on the site to see more. You might want check out the playlist for “My Tips and Tricks”!

Daily Photo – The Mass Graves Near the Barbie Exhibit

I don't know why, but when I was here and saw all these dudes wrapped up, it just reminded me of mass graves! I spent quite a while in the Kuala Lumpur airport, and this is one of the strangest things I saw. They were all very confused as to why I was taking the photo, but it's incredibly obvious, I say!

Behind The Scenes Video

Here’s the video that I recently shot while I got stuck in that airport!

Daily Photo – Waiting in Kuala Lumpur

This is one of the couples I photographed while waiting in KLIA. I really enjoy shooting in airports, so this is why I was happy for the long layover. I really liked their colors, their stripes, and their position.

A few minutes ago in Kuala Lumpur

Daily Photo – KLIA Airport

I love Kuala Lumpur! I don't know if you care for the sorts of videos above where I just kind of ramble… stream of consciousness… I wonder if you find it boring or just-above-mildly-entertaining! Let me know! That is, if the commenting is working again on the blog… Curtis will let me know when it is working, and I'll let you know ASAP! Sorry about the tech difficulties!

Do you have a website or photo portfolio you’d like to promote or mention? Put it below in the comments and people can visit to find out more about you!

Daily Photo – The Pool at the Traders in Kuala Lumpur

This is an open-air area atop a beautiful hotel in KL. There’s an awesome pool and a trendy bar where you can have drinks and watch all sorts of sylph-like Euros make sinuous music-video-like moves in and out of the pool. This top level up here is a “spa” area with doors that lead of into little massage rooms, where, no doubt, other Euro sylph-like maneuvers are going on.

I met Jen Scheer, head of the Space Tweeps society, at SXSW. We spent a few hours planning out the shuttle launch, viewing angles, time of day, etc etc.

Upcoming Trips…

I’ve spent the past week arranging a ton of flights, cars, and all sorts of stuff. Here’s a list of some upcoming travels. First, I’m headed out to Monterey, CA to speak at the EG Conference. We’ll also have a PhotoWalk out there.

Then, I have tickets and some very nice inside access to go see the Space Shuttle launch. I’m so excited. I’m also really thinking about taking a cool photo. This has occupied way too much of my brain in the past few weeks. I hope my brain works it all out so I don’t have to.

After that, I have Iceland for the solstice, then Yellowstone, Paris, Nimes, Switzerland, Burning Man, China and probably another trip to New Zealand before the end of the year. Man, I gotta pack!

Daily Photo – Flying Through the Night Skies of Kuala Lumpur

My grandmother told me that Kuala Lumpur was one of my grandfather’s favorite cities. I wonder what he would think of it now… but I know what he means – it’s also one of my favorite cities! I have many friends there, and people are generally as friendly as can be.

We posted a behind-the-scenes video a few days ago, and a new one is coming tomorrow. You can see previous ones on the Videos page.

Updated Woopra Video Review (Thanks London!)

I recently updated my Woopra Review, which is a cool real-time analytics tool for your website or blog. I recommend it! You can try it for free and be up and running in just 10 minutes after a visit to the Woopra site.

Daily Photo – Ripping Through the World

I know everyone has their own various tastes for HDR, and mine is all over the map! Sometimes I really feel artsy and go crazy with one, like this car below. It’s hard with awesome cars… because the reflectivity in HDR is so off the map.

I’ve been meaning to get to one of those high-end car shows and go crazy with my tripod. I’ve heard the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach is really one of the best in the world… but maybe you all know of some other stellar car shows you can recommend?

Yes, I am thinking about putting one together based on a series of very enthusiastic requests! I don’t have anything formally planned yet, but some pieces are coming together. I know we have people coming to Austin for SXSW from all over the world. If we hold it, it will be around sunset on Saturday evening, March 13 (it was March 14, but I understand now the Austin Photography Group meets that evening). So… pencil in the 13th !

We might even have a little contest of sorts… see who can get the most interesting Austin evening / SXSW / party / social / or Austin-y shot!

Daily Photo – The Beautiful Airport in Kuala Lumpur

Ahhhh… Asian airports. I really love them. They all remind me, for some reason, of these clean-white scenes from the beginning of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The architecture in these places is inspired and the textures are impeccably chosen. I literally cannot help myself from taking photos. Whenever I walk through them and I compose a scene with my eyes, I am compelled to get out my camera and tripod and shoot away.

And yes — this is a common question I get on Twitter and all over the place. I always carry my tripod on the plane. I’ve never had a problem except for one international flight, when they told me it was a few inches too long. Now, this might have been a fluke because I have a big tripod. I’m just sayin’.

We are just starting an amazing HDR workshop down here in Austin. It won’t be the same as being there, but a DVD will be available soon after, so be sure to sign up for the free newsletter so you can find out first!

The Austin workshop ended up being a fairly exclusive event, and we priced it at $1,000 per attendee. I knew it would be popular and that there was an enthusiastic group of people out there, but I did not expect the whole thing to sell out in 11 minutes (after crashing the StuckInCustoms server for 30 minutes after it became available!)! I’m excited the date has finally arrived and I am very excited to teach people, make new friends, and do my best to take their photography to the next level.

My other workshop next weekend with Scott Bourne in Florida is also sold out! There may be last-min cancellations, so watch for that. That will be a fun event and I look forward to meeting a bunch more people and sharing this new sport with them.

People always ask about potentially doing other workshops. I have no immediate plans, except perhaps one in New Zealand next month.

Appearance on Sunday night at BookPeople

On Sunday evening, come to BookPeople before 7 PM to the Austin Photography Group. Feel free to come by and hear my little talk on HDR. I’m also happy to meet people, sign books, and this sort of thing. Come to the presentation hall on the third floor. See you there!

New Limited Edition Print Available

Every week, we release a new print, and this week’s is One Night in Bangkok. This was shot very soon after I arrived in Thailand. It took me forever to find a good view of the famous Wat Arun. But then, not only did I find the perfect spot, but it happened to be on the deck of a delish Italian restaurant.

Daily Photo – Getting a Bottle at the Bar

What a cool place! This is another one of those photos that just has amazing detail of the incredible decor. It is an underground bar in Kuala Lumpur that I could not stop taking photos inside! As you can see, there are no bad angles in a place like this, so it is very fun to compose.

I’ll have a little challenge that I will give out at the workshop where we all shoot the same subject matter to see who can get the most interesting composition. This bar is a very cool place because there are a ton of interesting compositions, but also some bad compositions. I’m not sure one can actually “teach” composition… but I suppose I can try!

]]>http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2010/01/09/getting-a-bottle-at-the-bar/feed/17“The World in HDR” sold out on Amazon, and The Temple Deep in the Caveshttp://www.stuckincustoms.com/2010/01/06/the-world-in-hdr-sold-out-on-amazon-and-the-temple-deep-in-the-caves/
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2010/01/06/the-world-in-hdr-sold-out-on-amazon-and-the-temple-deep-in-the-caves/#commentsWed, 06 Jan 2010 05:48:05 +0000http://www.stuckincustoms.com/?p=4989

Book Sellouts on Amazon and in bookstores around the world!

Wow! You guys are awesome – thank you so much. I can’t even believe it… After the book was released, it almost immediately sold out on Amazon in the UK (My UK friends are cuuurazy), then Canada, and now in the USA Amazon store. It’s really crazy to sell out on Amazon – so I hardly have enough words to thank you!

Check some of the other stores on my HDR Book page to see where it is still avail – these sites typically update inventory on an hourly basis.

Daily Photo – The Temple Deep in the Caves

Borneo is known for its amazing limestone caves. Just on the other side, over in West Malaysia, there are a ton of the same strange cave structures that twist and turn in unexpected ways through old mountains. This one is called the Batu Caves, and if you walk through it long enough, you end up in the very center of the mountain, where an opening appears high overhead. Deep in this innermost sanctuary lies this unique Hindu Temple.

Some of you may remember that old woman who has never cut her hair (2nd photo below), walking up the stairs to visit the temple every day. I’ve never posted a photo of her final destination until now.

]]>http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2010/01/06/the-world-in-hdr-sold-out-on-amazon-and-the-temple-deep-in-the-caves/feed/30The Alien Garden I Found on that Away Mission and a Woopra Reviewhttp://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/11/08/the-alien-garden-i-found-on-that-away-mission-and-a-woopra-review/
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/11/08/the-alien-garden-i-found-on-that-away-mission-and-a-woopra-review/#commentsSun, 08 Nov 2009 05:01:44 +0000http://www.stuckincustoms.com/?p=4383Workshop Update

Thanks again for all the interest in the HDR Workshop we announced a few days ago. All sorts of people have come out of the woodwork with great ideas, bonus offerings, and the like. It’s gonna be awesome. The available slots go on sale on Friday morning (right after midnight CST.) From the looks of the first responses for HDR seminar, I think we could get over 100 there! But, I’m only opening 10-15 slots because I want there to be plenty of one-on-one time.

Today’s Photo

Okay, here is a great mystery. I know you guys like it when I post a photo and you have to guess where it is. Y’all are so dang smart that you figure it out in just a few hours. This one is harder. I’ll be very impressed if anyone can figure out this humid place. Look at those wonderful trees! Who can believe something so cool is here in Earth…

]]>http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/11/08/the-alien-garden-i-found-on-that-away-mission-and-a-woopra-review/feed/32The Malaysian Restaurant Steamworkshttp://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/11/02/the-malaysian-restaurant-steamworks/
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/11/02/the-malaysian-restaurant-steamworks/#commentsMon, 02 Nov 2009 06:12:43 +0000http://www.stuckincustoms.com/?p=4328There is a very cool and swank area of Kuala Lumpur that has a collection of trendy and well-designed restaurants. The whole place is a photographer’s paradise! The only problem is that the entire place is quite dimly lit. But, as you know, I’m a nerd that takes my tripod everywhere, so that doesn’t pose too much of a problem! Well, it does pose a problem when it comes time for dinner and all my gear takes up an entire table. I don’t like to put it in the corner. Nobody puts baby in the corner.